EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants need a backup defensive tackle for the next month, as veteran Jimmy Kennedy was suspended four games on Tuesday for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances.

Kennedy, 31, was signed in late August to add depth to the line after rookie defensive tackle Marvin Austin was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Kennedy played sparingly in five games in a rotation and had four total tackles.

Without him, the Giants at present have one reserve defensive tackle, veteran Rocky Bernard. They are able to use ends Jason Pierre-Paul and Dave Tollefson inside at tackle at times but with end Justin Tuck likely to miss his fourth game of the season with groin and neck issues that position is also thin.

Kennedy was able to give the Giants some decent play in certain run-stopping situations. Now Bernard will have to handle that load.

Notes: Limiting turnovers is a major theme this week as the Giants prepare for the Buffalo Bills, who lead the NFL with 12 interceptions and 16 takeaways. The Giants receivers are an explosive group capable of making big plays but they must be precise in their routes and in concert with Eli Manning.

Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz have all shown the ability to turn any play into a big gain but all three have also seen passes glance off their hands and into the hands of the opponent. That is a point of emphasis this week.

Manning wants to trust his receivers to the point where he is not waiting for them to get in and out of their routes and can throw it back shoulder or lead his receivers without fear they will not be on the same page. The three receivers are all youngsters who can stand to improve when it comes to making sure they catch the ball or no one else does.

Manning was victimized often last season when tipped passes turned into interceptions. The Giants know the Bills are the best in the league in that occurrence.